The Crucifixion c. 1320 - 1325

Bernardo Daddi rendered this panel, The Crucifixion, in tempera and gold. Here, we see Christ nailed to the cross, blood trickling from his wounds, while angels collect it in chalices. Below, a group of mourners express their grief. The iconography is rich with enduring symbols. The cross, of course, is central, but consider the weeping figures below. In antiquity, gestures of mourning—raised arms and lamenting faces—were common in funerary rites. These gestures reappear in Christian art to convey profound sorrow and empathy. Observe the angels gathering Christ’s blood. This is a potent symbol of sacrifice and redemption. The blood is a promise of salvation, a concept that transcends time and culture, echoing ancient rituals of offering and purification. It’s a powerful image that engages our collective memory, stirring deep, subconscious emotions. The grief-stricken figures and the salvific blood create a scene of intense emotional resonance. These symbols carry a continuous emotional and psychological weight, evolving through history.